Grangemouth in Central Scotland is perhaps one of the best examples of partnership between industry, the emergency services, and the local authority in the management of major emergencies and emergency planning.
Grangemouth, a town with a population of around 20,000, has one of Scotland’s busiest ports adjacent to an extensive industrial complex containing both top tier and lower tier COMAH sites operated by several different companies. The possibility of a major accident occurring is, therefore, always in the mind of everyone concerned.
In 1968, well before legislation such as the current Control of Major Accident Hazards Regulations 1999 (COMAH) was introduced, a need for co-operation between the various industrial companies, emergency services and the local authority was recognised.
A voluntary body, the Major Incident Control Committee (MICC), was therefore set up with the task of "examining the material in each works and its hazard potential, examining the organisation in each works for dealing with it; exploring the integration of the various systems and setting out methods for controlling the emergency should a major incident occur".
The Major Incident Control Committee has met regularly ever since.
MICC membership
MICC membership comprises representatives from: Central Scotland Police, Central Scotland Fire and Rescue Service, Falkirk Council Civil Contingences team, other Development Services staff, Scottish Ambulance Service, NHS Forth Valley, Health and Safety Executive, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Forth Ports PLC, INEOS (formerly BP Grangemouth), BP Exploration Operating Co. Ltd., BP LPG UK Ltd, Calor Gas, Polimeri Europa UK Ltd., GE Plastics ABS Ltd, Avecia Ltd, Syngenta Ltd, Rohm and Haas (Scotland) Ltd, formerly Ross Chemicals, Firmin Coates Ltd., National Grid Transco, Scottish Power and Scottish Water.
The Committee’s work involves planning to deal with a major accident in the industrial complex. It includes the arrangements for setting up a control centre, the provision of communications equipment, the provision of technical advice and arrangements for mutual aid between the companies and the emergency services. It also organises training and exercises and arranges actual assistance given in the event of a major accident.
Control during incidents
The control centre is at Grangemouth Police Office in specially designed and equipped rooms used by the police, the technical advisers and the fire and ambulance services.
Forward control is nearer the scene of the accident normally at the affected Company’s Control Centre or gatehouse. These are linked to the police by a dedicated radio system which is tested regularly. Advance Control is based on the Fire and Rescue Service Command Unit.
Technical advisers
In the event of a major incident being declared each industrial company sends a senior member of staff to main control to offer technical advice and information on the availability of mutual aid.
An industrial gas detection service with radio-equipped vehicles, operated by trained staff from two of the companies, can monitor levels of gas in the atmosphere in any affected areas.
Procedures
MICC recognises the need for an overall co-ordinated response to a major accident and has agreed procedures with the emergency services for controlling such an event.
The MICC procedures are co-ordinated with the COMAH Off Site Emergency Plan. The MICC is the forum where Falkirk Council and the site owners agree on amendments to the COMAH plan and the statutory notification to the public.
Plans and procedures are continually being reassessed, improved and updated. Sub Committees plan exercises, update procedures and make recommendations on communications, testing of the dedicated siren system and responses to the media.
Exercises
The main purpose of exercises is to train staff in procedures and to test and improve the procedures themselves. There are presently three levels of exercise:
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The police test the dedicated radio system weekly by regular calls to each member. This very simple test not only ensures that the equipment is working properly but provides a regular opportunity for new, replacement or stand-in staff to become familiar with its use.
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Also weekly, one of the industrial members initiates a test by calling the police on the dedicated radio system, notifying them of an ‘incident’ and asking for assistance, such as setting up road control points or having another member provide some specified emergency equipment. Again, this is a simple procedure but ensures familiarity with the system.
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Approximately twice a year more ambitious exercises are held. These involve setting up and manning forward control and main control and working through a "incident scenario". These exercises have involved the deployment of police officers to road control points and of fire and ambulance personnel to forward and main control.
Lessons learned from all of these exercises are fed back into the planning process.